klos63 Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 That was the rationale that the league & broadcasters made - that if this passes, you can kiss watching on free broadcast TV goodbye. But in reality, I wonder how many sports fans who do watch the games watch them on regular broadcast TV, and not on cable or satellite? Right now, about 85% of the US population subscribes to pay TV, and I imagine the proportion of sports fans is closer to 100% They may subscribe to some sort of pay TV, but how many households buy the NFL Ticket - my point was , what if the only way you can watch any games in the future would be exclusively through NFL Ticket at $300 per year, or whatever they want to charge in the future. Not saying this will likely happen, but just wondering.
K D Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 is this thread serious? it says it's a done deal but they don't even vote until Sept 30. OP change the title please
GG Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 They may subscribe to some sort of pay TV, but how many households buy the NFL Ticket - my point was , what if the only way you can watch any games in the future would be exclusively through NFL Ticket at $300 per year, or whatever they want to charge in the future. Not saying this will likely happen, but just wondering. I think the realistic scenario would be to either expand Sunday Ticket to more providers or to expand the optionality to watch the games. Right now games are scheduled on a fairly rigid and arbitrary map that takes local broadcasters into consideration. If the blackout is lifted, then you will have more games to watch on regular TV because you won't have the stupid blackouts of national games if the local team is playing. This is a good thing. is this thread serious? it says it's a done deal but they don't even vote until Sept 30. OP change the title please For all intensive purposes, it's a done deal. With Wheeler (D) & Pai ® behind it, the vote will be a formality.
PolishDave Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 The FCC was enforcing the blackouts based on arbitrarily drawn broadcast maps. Time for the private parties to settle this in the boardroom. I don't see how the FCC would need to enforce anything. If the NFL writes a contract that says you can show our games to a nationwide audience or worldwide audience except to this particular region under these specific conditions, then I don't see where there is anything to enforce. The NFL should sell the contract to whichever network is willing to abide by its rules. I don't get where there is a need for any government involvement whatsoever. If the television network breeches the contract, then the NFL can sue them.
GG Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 I don't see how the FCC would need to enforce anything. If the NFL writes a contract that says you can show our games to a nationwide audience or worldwide audience except to this particular region under these specific conditions, then I don't see where there is anything to enforce. The NFL should sell the contract to whichever network is willing to abide by its rules. I don't get where there is a need for any government involvement whatsoever. If the television network breeches the contract, then the NFL can sue them. At the end of the day, the NFL will follow the lead of its biggest customers - national TV networks, ESPN and DirecTV. The league put up a modest fight to protect gate revenues, but the national networks know they stand to earn more revenues because now they won't be prohibited by law from broadcasting a competing game. For instance, if there's a home Giants game vs Jacksonville, the other network is not allowed to show Seahawks/Broncos against it. With the blackout lifted, there will be an opportunity to air that game in the NY market The league won't object, because the networks will want more games on.
PolishDave Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 At the end of the day, the NFL will follow the lead of its biggest customers - national TV networks, ESPN and DirecTV. The league put up a modest fight to protect gate revenues, but the national networks know they stand to earn more revenues because now they won't be prohibited by law from broadcasting a competing game. For instance, if there's a home Giants game vs Jacksonville, the other network is not allowed to show Seahawks/Broncos against it. With the blackout lifted, there will be an opportunity to air that game in the NY market The league won't object, because the networks will want more games on. I don't understand how any of this has anything to do with FCC rules. If the NFL wants to allow competing games then it should be allowed to do so right now. If they don't want to allow competing games it should be able to specify that in the contract with whatever TV network buys the contract for showing games. I don't see how that has anything to do with the FCC at all. Likewise, if the NFL wants to prohibit television broadcasts of local games in local areas where games don't sell out, then that is their prerogative. They should be able to prohibit that. It should have nothing to do with the FCC. I don't understand why they would be involved at all.
4BillsintheBurgh Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 They may subscribe to some sort of pay TV, but how many households buy the NFL Ticket - my point was , what if the only way you can watch any games in the future would be exclusively through NFL Ticket at $300 per year, or whatever they want to charge in the future. Not saying this will likely happen, but just wondering. I think the NFL had this question answered with the Thursday night games on their network, which if I remember correctly didn't go well. I think the question is what's a better outlet/money maker for the NFL, it's station or the network stations.
nucci Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 I think the NFL had this question answered with the Thursday night games on their network, which if I remember correctly didn't go well. I think the question is what's a better outlet/money maker for the NFL, it's station or the network stations. It will still be on the Networks but right now with basic cable or basic satellite, there are 2-3 games televised locally throughout the day. What if NFL decided to put every game on Sunday Ticket and no more games televised on basic cable/satellite?
PolishDave Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 It will still be on the Networks but right now with basic cable or basic satellite, there are 2-3 games televised locally throughout the day. What if NFL decided to put every game on Sunday Ticket and no more games televised on basic cable/satellite? That is their right to do that if they want to. Isn't it? They won't do it though because they need to keep the masses addicted to football. That would be a short term moneymaker for them, but a long term negative for the good of the league. They are smart enough to know that.
GG Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 I don't understand how any of this has anything to do with FCC rules. You didn't read the link to the FCC regulations, did you?
4BillsintheBurgh Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 It will still be on the Networks but right now with basic cable or basic satellite, there are 2-3 games televised locally throughout the day. What if NFL decided to put every game on Sunday Ticket and no more games televised on basic cable/satellite? I think they have crunched those numbers already because what is stopping them from doing that today? If there is more money in it, you better believe the NFL will do that in a heartbeat, regardless of local blackout rules. What if you could buy the games you want from iTunes? How much would you have to pay for a game to return the same profit? There might be a large drop in revenue if the move to a pay service was made and it didn't go well. Your advertising revenues could drop because not as many people would watch, or maybe more would go to a bar to watch, etc. The national distribution of the games is key to all that advertising money, I just don't see how that changes because the local games are televised if they aren't sold out. Those folks will instead be in front of the tv, right where those advertisers want them. I think stadiums get smaller and the ticket price goes up along with an enhanced experience at the stadium, that's all.
QCity Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 For all intensive purposes, it's a done deal. Irregardless, I am giving you leadway as you have peeked my curiosity.
NickelCity Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 Irregardless, I am giving you leadway as you have peeked my curiosity. nice
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 Just go to streaming a la cart pay per view already!!
Bob Malooga Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 I really wouldn't expect this to be an issue for the Buffalo Bills and their fans for quite a while now.
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted September 9, 2014 Posted September 9, 2014 Irregardless, I am giving you leadway as you have peeked my curiosity. I think I just had a stroke....
ExiledInIllinois Posted September 10, 2014 Posted September 10, 2014 The NFL has a product. It’s product is Football games. So the government is now going to tell this privately owned company that it has to give its product away to customers instead of selling it to them? Socialism at its finest moment! I have been a season ticket holder for a long time and hope to continue as such. So blackouts don’t really affect me. I remember I hated them before I was a season ticket holder. But even when I hated them, I still don’t think it is right to force the NFL to give away their product in real time to their customers. That is not capitalism. Government should keep its damn nose out of it. Fine then don't take a dime of the taxpayers' money and services. Yeah right, like that's going to happen.
PolishDave Posted September 10, 2014 Posted September 10, 2014 Fine then don't take a dime of the taxpayers' money and services. You mean tax money I presume? I'm okay with that. I don't think taxpayers anywhere should be subsidizing sports teams. It isn't an essential service.
Roger Goodell Posted September 10, 2014 Posted September 10, 2014 The whole system is breaking down!!
ExiledInIllinois Posted September 10, 2014 Posted September 10, 2014 You mean tax money I presume? I'm okay with that. I don't think taxpayers anywhere should be subsidizing sports teams. It isn't an essential service. Truce. Fair enough. The whole system is breaking down!! Yep! And BFLO is staying old-school! Kiss our azzes... Signed, The Cooler Toters & Tailgaters from Buffalo, New York PS: Just say no to $70 parking & the "New NFL."
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